Innholdsfortegnelse for July 2016 i Country Homes & Interiors

What sums up lazy-day living for you? When I asked the Country Homes & Interiors team this question, their answers formed the starting point for this colourful, summer-loving issue. For Vivienne, our Houses Editor, it was having the time to soak up wow-factor views of the British countryside (turn to page 22 for homes that sit perfectly in the landscape). Deputy Editor Jane opted for finding the perfect hammock, chair or lounger in a sunny garden spot (see our favourites on page 96). For our Style team, it was surrounding themselves with the joyful, juicy fruit shades of the season – sundowner yellows, berry reds and leafy greens on cushions, ceramics and outdoor rugs, anyone? (See page 58 for inspiration.) Food guru Sarah said it was lighting the charcoal to…

Pull up a stool This sleek bar stool with a functional back is a new addition to Ercol’s Originals collection. With high tapered legs and a smooth silhouette, it’s a contemporary interpretation of the design first produced in the 1950s by founder Lucian Ercolani. Only a small number were made for his workshop — back when designers sat up at drawing boards rather than computers! Available in both ash and beech, from £295. OUR FAVOURITE DESIGNER Marthe Armitage Artist and wallpaper designer Marthe Armitage has collaborated with British fragrance house Jo Malone to produce a block-printed design in three colourways that forms the packaging for the limited-edition Summer Afternoon range. This beautiful collection includes soaps, drawer liners, bath oil and an evocative candle. How did you get into block printing?…

The place to go... Ambleside Located in the Lake District, this market town is a great base for a visit to the National Park. Celebrate Beatrix Potter’s 150th birthday this month. Visit Armitt museum (armitt.com) to explore her life through her artwork at the Image & Reality exhibition. Or head to nearby Hawkshead for exclusive tours of Potter’s home, Hill Top (booking essential, nationaltrust.org.uk). Enjoy a steamer boat trip on Lake Windermere from Waterhead Pier to Bowness. Eat at Lake Road Kitchen (lakeroadkitchen.co.uk), which serves delicious meals featuring local seasonal and homegrown produce. Stay at Crow How (crowhow.co.uk), a four-star guesthouse set in a lovely woodland garden. Love garden art Head for the Windrush Valley in Oxfordshire where the On Form garden sculpture exhibition takes place at Asthall Manor (12…

Aubusson rug Delicate blooms strewn across the floor will bring colour and life to a country home. Need to know… These charming flat-woven rugs take their name from Aubusson in central France, where tapestries and carpets were once woven by hand, often for royal palaces. Aubussons were crafted with oriental motifs and architectural designs, while pile carpets were made, too, but it is the classic florals that we still love today. For a contemporary twist, consider Vivienne Westwood’s Aubussons in tartan and Paul Smith’s traditional pattern playfully edged in hot pink and acid yellow. Where to buy… • London House for a classic range. • Rugs of the World for a good selection of single-colour patterns. • The Rug Company for Paul Smith and Vivienne Westwood versions. FIND THE PERFECT CLASSIC WALLPAPER For…

All the details: PRODUCTS AND PRICES (Opener) Butler’s tray, £80, Garden Trading. Lining fabric, Plains Nine, col Moss, £21 m, Scion. Stoneware pot; scissors; string; threads, all from a selection, Briggs & Oliver. Yellow string, £1.50, Re. Folded fabrics, Arley Stripe, J871F-07, col Red, £32 m; Layla, col Orange, £35 m, both Jane Churchill. DRESS THE BACK DOOR Curtain, Inglewood, col Red/Green, £69 m, Jane Churchill. Lower walls, painted in Churlish Green, £55 for 2.5L, Farrow & Ball. Indu bench, col Red, £250, Habitat. Cushions (from back): 1 Aztec, col Orange, £23, Bohemia. 2 Anoushka, col Yellow, £59 m, Jane Churchill. 3 Natural stripe, similar from Ian Mankin. 4 Amira, col Red, £32 m, Jane Churchill. Vintage suitcase, similar from Ebay. Picnic basket, £42; door mat, £10, both Garden Trading.…

Planting file Style tip Use fabric tape designed for sports racquets – such as hockey stick tape – for a wide choice of colours. Spoon plant markers Style tip Print out miniature plant illustrations to add another decorative element to the spoons. Tool kit caddy Style tip Spray the cans with different colours to indicate assorted uses for each. Mini pinny Style tip Selvedge-edged ribbons are ideal for simple sewing projects as there is no need to hem the sides.…

Jess Pearce studied volcanoes, worked in a bedding nursery and trained in interior design before joining forces with her mum, Monica Ashman, to set up a business specialising in scented perennials and shrubs and wildflowers from around the British Isles. The pair run Wild Thyme from a two-acre site in rural Somerset and spend much of the summer selling their plants at flower shows. Mother-of-two Jess adores working with Monica, who inspired her love of gardening. July is a busy time at the nursery, so we went along to find out more… WHERE ARE YOU BASED? Wild Thyme Nursery is at my mum’s 19th-century stone cottage on the outskirts of the market town of Frome. When she first bought the place, the family would come out at weekends and pull…

1 BEST FOR… Storage flexibility Smeg FQ960P, 540L, £2,399 This capacious no-frost four-door model (H187xW92xD68cm) offers a huge volume of fresh storage and, thanks to a clever thermostat, the bottom left compartment can be used as either a freezer or fridge, freeing up even more space – ideal for harvests of home-grown fruit or veg or catering for big dinner parties. Available in Cream, Black or Pastel Blue. A+ 2 BEST FOR… Blackboard jotting Miele KFN29233 BB, 361L, £1,499 Who said superb energy efficiency and practicality can’t spell fun? This impressive Miele fridge-freezer (H201xW60xD68.5cm) comes in a blackboard finish that can be written or drawn upon with traditional chalk or liquid chalk markers. Completely frost-free, it offers multiple drawers, storage cubbyholes and shelves to make organisation effortless. A+++ 3 BEST…

1 Care for our coastlines Host your own beach-cleaning event to keep Britain’s shores safe and looking lovely. Here’s where to start. Register with the Marine Conservation Society (MCS) at mcsuk.org/beachwatch/ organisers to become a beach-cleaning host. Decide on a beach. Think about the practicalities of parking and toilet facilities. Contact the owner (often the local council) to check that they’re happy for you to proceed. Check the tides and plan the timing of your event around them. Publicise your event and get volunteers to sign up with the MCS online. Let the coastguard know the location, times and numbers. Enjoy the day! Call 01989 566017 or visit mcsuk.org for more details. 2 FEEL THE LOVE FOR FREESIAS Planning a country wedding? Be sure to include freesias in your bouquet…

I’m a fabric hoarder – I have piles of it!’ says Sue Maullin, founder of Sussex-based Bunting Boutique. Her love of fabrics, along with a passion for sewing, has led to her business making beautiful handmade bunting, ranging from classic florals to designs made from vintage fabrics, doilies and even paper. ‘I grew up around sewing and have always loved it,’ says Sue. ‘My mum sewed when I was a child and my nan created lovely cross-stitched tablecloths. I was fascinated by my nan’s sewing basket and soon developed a love for embroidery. I remember having plenty of mini sewing projects on the go from an early age.’ Not surprisingly, Sue veered towards arty subjects at school before doing a foundation course, followed by a fashion textiles degree at Brighton.…

A  A SPLASH OF COLOUR asplashofcolour.com AA MACDONALD JOINERY AND BUILDING 07788 296331 ACORN ANTIQUE INTERIORS 01208 812815 acornantiqueinteriors.co.uk AGA 0845 712 5207 agaliving.com AIRBNB airbnb.co.uk ALFIES ANTIQUE MARKET 020 7723 6066 alfiesantiques.com ALL THINGS BRIGHTON BEAUTIFUL allthingsbrightonbeautiful.co.uk AMTICO 0121 745 0800 amtico.com ANNIE SLOAN 01865 713089 anniesloan.co.uk ANOTHER COUNTRY 020 7486 3251 anothercountry.com ASHLEY THOMAS ashleythomasdesign.co.uk AURO 01452 772020 auro.co.uk B  B&Q 0333 014 3098 diy.com BHS 0344 411 6000 bhs.co.uk BAMBINI 020 7101 4918 bambinifurniture.co.uk BARBOUR 0800 917 3000 barbour.com BATHROOM CITY 0121 753 0700 bathroomcity.co.uk BAYTREE INTERIORS 0808 168 9242 baytree-interiors.co.uk BEDECK 0333 200 7331 bedeckhome.com BELVOIR FRUIT FARMS 01476 870286 belvoirfruitfarms.co.uk BENCHMARK 01488 608020 benchmarkfurniture.com BIG GREEN EGG 0843 216 2805 biggreenegg.co.uk BIRDIE FORTESCUE 01328 738634 birdiefortescue.co.uk BLUEBELLGRAY 0141 221 0724 bluebellgray.com BOHEMIA…

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A WHITE ABUNDANCE Huge pompoms of creamy white flowers cover Hydrangea arborescens ‘Annabelle’ from July to early autumn when they fade to a muted lime green, then turn to magical winter seedheads. Plant it en masse in a semi-shaded border for impact, and don’t let it dry out — the more moisture-retentive the soil, the bigger the flowers. A 9cm pot costs £14 at Hayloft Plants. OUR FAVOURITE ROSE EXPERT David JC Austin With 18 Gold medals at RHS Chelsea Flower Show under his belt, David JC Austin, Managing Director of David Austin Roses, is a world expert on rose-growing. Who better to chat to us about these fabulous flowers? How long has your family been growing roses? My grandparents were farmers…

What we love most about living here… ’The secluded setting. We have planted a vineyard behind the house and, who knows, we might make our own wine one day’ Amanda Markham and her husband Roderick James love houses and designing them. This is hardly surprising given their careers as an interior designer and architect, respectively. But what surprised the couple – as they travelled hundreds of miles north for work – was how much they fell in love with this remote corner of Scotland and how quickly they were able to call it home. A chance commission first brought the pair to the hamlet overlooking the Isle of Mull. ‘Roderick was asked to design a house for the former owner of the Drimnin Estate so we came up to do…

Bifold doors Open up the back of the house for light, air and views of the garden. Need to know… Gorgeous bifold doors that concertina to one side can open inwards or outwards but bear in mind that outward-opening ones won’t encroach on the furniture inside. Although a seamless join between indoor and outdoor levels is possible, a step change will make weatherproofing easier. Aluminium frames can be powder-coated in any colour; timber is naturally beautiful, while composite doors in timber and metal offer the best of both worlds. Where to buy… • Jeld-Wen for solid oak doors. • Klöeber for engineered timber doors. • Sunflex for aluminium, timber and composite doors. FIND THE PERFECT WOOD-EFFECT FLOOR For more ideas go to housetohome.co.uk/  countryhomesandinteriors…

What we love most about living here… ‘That it’s within a great village yet backs on to lovely Cotswold countryside. It truly is the best of both worlds’ What makes this house a home… ’Open fireplaces, soft Cotswold stone and the way the house comes alive in summer’ Even though it had been a cherished family home and working farm for five generations, the house Louise and Nigel Johnson now call home had not been lived in for seven years and was ‘rather sad’ when they first saw it. Still, they knew and loved the area and were looking for more space for their growing family and a larger plot for Louise to create the garden she’d always dreamed of. The house stands on the site of what had once…

The outdoor kitchen Create your own cooking station with a wood-fired oven teamed with rustic boards and essential utensils to help you prepare and serve summer bites. Wood-fired oven, from £799; wooden pizza peel, £49.99 (Primo Accessory Pack), The Stone Bake Oven Company. Trellis, £21.99, Zest 4 Leisure. Painted in Lemon Yellow, £16.99 for 1L Royal Exterior Superior Wood Finish, Protek. (On trellis) pot, from £6.95, Mia Fleur. Pizza paddle board, £23.95, Dassie Artisan. Chopping board, £55, Pastel Lane. (On slate) paddle board, £25, Marks & Spencer. Jug, £35.95, Howkapow. Serving spoon, £12; spatula, £7.50, both Cox & Cox. Bark board, £22.95, Dassie Artisan. Salad bowl, £14.95, Howkapow. Salad servers, £6.95, Birdie Fortescue. Tea towels (from top): 1 Linen, £13.75, Canvas Home. 2 Handblock Printed, £8.50, Birdie Fortescue. 3 Yellow,…

Planting file Keep note of plants, seeds and cuttings used in different parts of the garden with a file made from envelopes. Using A4 string-tie envelopes with the opening facing upwards, stick fabric tape along the long left edge so that it overhangs by half. Turn the envelope over and repeat so as to cover the visible overhanging sticky side of the tape and the edge of the envelope. Make two eyelet holes through the tape with a hole punch and eyelet kit. Create a label for the envelope by sticking a length of fabric tape near the outer edge topped with letter-stamped card spelling out the area of the garden the contents relate to. Repeat with remaining envelopes, then thread together using leather laces to make the finished file.…

1 Bunk up The pitched ceiling in this New England-style room is ideal for a bunk bed. ‘There are two key considerations,’ says Katherine Mitchell, Buyer of Beds and Bedroom Furniture, John Lewis. ‘The recommended minimum age for using one is six, and the top mattress should be no deeper than 15cm. Also, check the bunk passed British safety and quality standards.’ 2 Country cover-up ‘Colourful wallpaper will inject a touch of fun into your little one’s bedroom. In a country home it’s nice to source nature-inspired designs such as this print featuring cherry trees, birds and butterflies,’ says Linda Swarbrick, Managing Director, Scandi Living. Pair with painted open storage furniture so the pattern can shine through, while books and teddies sit on display. 3 Pack it away Encourage children…

A passion for colour and design lies behind Susie Watson Designs, with everything beautifully handmade. Choose from gorgeous cushions in hand-printed linens, classic striped cottons and hand-stitched appliqués. Cushions are handmade, with a cotton background, piped and filled with a feather pad. As well as cushions, you can also use your discount on the Susie Watson Designs range of elegant fabrics in 100% cotton. You can choose fabrics that are double width and woven with a horizontal stripe, designed to be used as a vertical stripe on curtains and blinds. The beauty of this is that the width becomes the drop, avoiding visible seams. The majority of the thick-weave cottons are suitable for curtains and upholstery. For more information, please visit susiewatsondesigns.co.uk. • How to claim your 15% discount Take this…

The one lesson I’ve learned...‘IF YOU ARE LABOURING OVER AN IDEA, PUT IT TO ONE SIDE FOR A WHILE. I FIND THINGS USUALLY WORK BETTER WHEN IDEAS FLOW NATURALLY’ A niche business specialises in selling a particular product and caters for a small target market and a very specific customer – Sue Maullin’s Bunting Boutique is a successful example. With the advent of the internet and search engines, small niche businesses have thrived. The popularity of social media means that identifying and reaching a target audience has never been easier. A niche business is now a much more viable option as customers can easily access specialised suppliers online. The key is to identify your market – it should be one that is currently under-served and overlooked – and work out…

When I gaze at the herb garden at Rosemoor in Devon, there is no doubt that this is the view that beats all others. It’s my local RHS garden, and I’ve been visiting it for years. There are so many wonderful planting combinations that stop you dead in your tracks. I like seeing different ones that I haven’t thought of using. In my garden, I love using red-leaved herbs, which makes the green look ‘greener’. What I love most about Rosemoor is the space and how nothing feels cramped or packed in. You can wander from the roses into the herb garden, then down to the kitchen garden. In summer, they have a wonderful display of lemon bergamot, which is absolutely beautiful, and there is also a lovely thyme bed.…

VIDEO See videos of our favourite country colours at country-days.co.uk…

We want this now... If you have a glut of garden fruit or have been heading off to pick your own, it’s time to start thinking about making summer fruit crumbles. This sunny-coloured handmade dish is perfect for baked puddings and will go stylishly from oven to table. Baker Medium in Yellow, H7xW28xD25cm, £112, Mud Australia. OUR FAVOURITE ROSEWATER PRODUCER Desdemona Freeman of Petals of the Valley In the summer of 2013, Petals of the Valley was born when Desdemona Freeman (below, left) was inspired to grow roses and distil them on her clay-rich farm in the lush hills of Wales. Joined by her friend Denise Jones, she launched the UK’s only home-produced rosewater at the Abergavenny Food Festival two years later. Tell us about rosewater as a culinary ingredient……

Wood floor finishes Tread the boards with utmost confidence – there’s a wood paint finish to suit every country home. Need to know… Whether you’re laying new boards or lifting a carpet to reveal originals, the correct finish will provide your wood floor with a protective barrier. A coat of lye followed by wood soap gives the classic limed look, but transparent wood wax finishes in translucent white, grey or any colour that still shows the grain are easier to apply. Complete with a hard-wearing floor wax or oil. These are not as tough as varnish, but they give a rustic effect with the bonus that they can be easily repaired. Where to buy… • Auro for lye and wood soap finishes. • Liberon for floor wax and oil. • Osmo for transparent…

What makes this house a home… ‘It’s full of people all the time and that makes it a very warm, sociable space’ Few would be brave to a house that people enough buy was derelict – especially one that had a tree growing in the middle of it – and then endeavour to transform it into their dream home. But Jo Stokes had a vision and a builder – Graham – for a husband. At the time, Jo, Graham and their daughters, Charlotte and Harriette, were living in a converted barn in a nearby village. ‘We wanted something bigger with land,’ says Jo. A friend told them about a farmhouse that was up for sale through auction. ‘Graham snuck into the grounds to take a look! The farmhouse hadn’t been…

Garden walls Create a timeless boundary that enhances your outdoor space. Need to know… There’s a beauty in using local materials that tie in with the landscape. Dry stone walls, a particular feature of the Cotswolds, northern England and Scotland, let water drain away but walls built with mortared joints will need coping stones on the top to protect them. Alternatives for a rustic look are stone wall cladding, in individual pieces or panels, or reconstituted stone blocks, which don’t always require mortar. Where to buy… • Marshalls for real and reconstituted stone blocks. • Real Stone Cladding for individual stones and panel systems. • Contact Dry Stone Walling Association (DSWA) for local courses. FIND THE PERFECT DECORATIVE GRAVEL For more ideas go to housetohome.co.uk/  countryhomesandinteriors…

1 ZONE YOUR SPACE ‘The kitchen is the perfect place to express yourself with paint,’ says Mike Howes, Director of Paint by Conran. ‘A sunny, upbeat yellow frames the entrance, creating a welcoming, positive mood; earthy terracotta makes the stove alcove the heart of the home; while a steely blue on the other walls feels relaxed and sociable by day or night.’ 2 GO FOR GRADATION A cloakroom is an ideal backdrop for experimenting with gradated paint effects as it is usually a compact area and easy to repaint if necessary. Create a beautiful watery ombréstyle splashback with three shades of blue. 3 MAKE YOUR BATH SING ‘Bathrooms have come a long way since the white-tiled, utilitarian look, and are now a place where design flair can be exhibited,’ says…

1 Outside winner ‘This garden furniture collection scores highly for both function and form – it needs very little attention to keep its elegance intact for years to come,’ says John Sims-Hilditch, Co-founder, Neptune. ‘Crafted from galvanised steel, it will fare well come wind, rain or shine and its comfy water-repellent cushions have washable covers. Add a matching coffee table so you can enjoy a relaxed breakfast or afternoon tea.’ 2 Fringe benefits What better way to while away a free moment than luxuriating in a shady spot beneath the trees, swaying gently in a country-style hammock, its crochet and tassel edging fluttering in the breeze? Made from cotton and mixed fibres, this hammock has a broad spreader bar to keep it in shape and loops to attach it are…

AT HOME WITH... Owners Debbie Bell and her partner, Peter, plus cats Odin and Thor. Their six children and three grandchildren are frequent visitors. House A 1930s chauffeur’s residence for the large house next door, restored and extended in 2001, on the edge of Lyme Regis. Garden One acre of sloping ground with free-draining, stony soil, divided into cottage, hot, white, vegetable and bog gardens with a studio and summerhouse. When artist and Debbie Bell rural Somerset gardener swapped for life in Lyme Regis on the Dorset coast in the 1990s she discovered a whole new world of plants. ‘I found that virtually anything would grow here, including the Mediterranean plants that had failed in my previous garden,’ says Debbie. Since 2009 she and her partner, Peter,…

GRILLED LOBSTER WITH SMOKED BUTTER Lobster is fantastic cooked over charcoal, and the shell imparts a sweet-smokiness as it chars. SERVES 4 2 x lobsters (750g-1kg each), preferably nativeSea salt and freshly ground black pepper100g smoked butter, at roomtemperature (see recipe, right)You’ll also need oak or apple wood chipsfor the fire 1 If you have live lobsters, put them in the freezer for an hour or so (but be careful not to freeze them) – this will put them to sleep, so that they can be dispatched as humanely as possible. 2 Light the barbecue and set for direct cooking. 3 On the stove top, bring a large pan of salted water to the boil over a high heat. Plunge the lobsters into the boiling water and cook for 3…